Page 17 of Summer Fling (The Kingston Brothers #5)

Chapter Eleven

Dalton

O n Sunday morning, I sent a text to Oakley reminding her that I would pick up Lilliana at seven, which was after dinnertime but before her nighttime routine. It felt weird to make a demand like this, because I hadn't before.

Oakley never responded. I wasn't sure what I'd do if she wasn't there. I almost expected her to disappear and keep Lilliana from me at this point.

When I arrived, the lights were on in her townhouse, and when I knocked, her father came to the door.

He was a burly man but shorter than me by several inches. His hair was unruly, as if he didn't bother to groom himself. "Oakley said you want to see Lilliana."

"Is she here?" I wasn't about to have a custody discussion with her father.

"She is." But he didn't make a move to let me in.

"Can you bring Lilliana out then? I told Oakley I'd be here at seven to pick her up."

"You don't have a custody agreement. Oakley doesn't have to do anything." Her father sneered.

I rocked back on my heels. "Well, sir, that works both ways. I didn't have to give Lilliana to Oakley this week. I had Lilliana in my custody and was within my rights to keep her."

He blanched at that.

"I don't want to play these games though. I want Lilliana to see both of us, and I think we can all agree that a fifty-fifty visitation schedule is fair."

His nose wrinkled. "You have a nanny. You're not even watching her during the day."

"Oakley works too, and I don't question who she's using for childcare during that time. We both need to work," I said reasonably, wondering if they were just testing this situation out.

"The difference is that my wife watches Lilliana."

I was fairly sure that Oakley was working as a bartender, so she was home during the day and worked at night when Lilliana was mainly sleeping.

But again, what she did in her spare time didn't concern me unless Lilliana was in danger.

"And my girlfriend, soon-to-be fiancée, is watching Lilliana when I'm working. "

He frowned. "You're marrying this girl?"

"Yes, sir, just as soon as she says yes."

Oakley's screech came from somewhere behind her father. "You're marrying that woman?"

I sighed. "Can you keep it down? I don't want to upset Lilliana."

Oakley stood at the door, and her father moved back. "You know I don't have to give her to you."

"Do you want me to tell my attorney that you're refusing to allow me to see Lilliana? He can file an emergency motion for custody tomorrow. I don't think you'll look good in front of the judge." I didn't want it to come to that.

Her shoulders dropped. "Why are you doing this?"

This was the pleading Oakley that I remembered. She yelled and ranted, but when she sensed I was pulling away, she resorted to sweet manipulation. But I wouldn't fall for it. "We can participate in mediation to work out any issues or concerns you might have."

"We've never had to go to the courts before."

Interesting how she'd always threatened this step but now didn't want to take it. "You told me when I could see Lilliana, and it wasn't enough. I want to be an involved father. I want a reliable schedule."

She sniffed. "You've always been fine with our arrangement."

"I wasn't okay with it. This is me taking steps to make it right. Tonight, I'd like to see Lilliana. I can drop her off next Sunday if that works for you."

"Ugh. Fine."

The door closed in my face, but I was hopeful that she'd return with Lilliana and her overnight bag.

I heard murmurings behind the door but couldn't make out what anyone was saying.

My impression was that Oakley's parents indulged her.

I suspected they never told her no. If she wanted something, they gave it to her.

But that wasn't how the world worked. She didn't get to just keep Lilliana when she wanted her, dumping her when she didn't.

When the door opened a second time, her mother walked out with Lilliana in her hands. She leaned toward me, and I took her from Bridgett.

I didn't relax until she was in my arms. "Hey, sweet girl. I missed you."

Lilliana patted my cheek, her eyes fixated on my beard. I'd even missed her tugging on it.

"Here you go." Bridgett handed me a bag, presumably containing her favorite blanket and stuffed animal.

"Thank you," I said as I turned away from her.

"Why are you doing this?"

I turned back to her, my heart racing at her implication that it was wrong. "I want what's best for our daughter, which is time with both of us." I didn't wait for her to answer, just headed toward my truck where I tried to calm down as I secured Lilliana in her car seat.

She babbled happily and took the giraffe I always kept in her seat. She liked to chew on it when she was teething.

I breathed in her sweet baby scent. I missed her so much.

It was nice to have time to build shelves and spend time with Blake this week, but I really missed being a dad.

I hated when Lil was with Oakley, but it was best for her to see both of us.

That's what I told myself so that I could make it through the times when I didn't see her.

In the driver's seat, I checked to ensure that Bridgett had gone back inside and then typed a quick text to Blake so she wouldn't worry.

Dalton: I've got Lilliana.

Blake: Oh, good.

I knew she was worried about the situation even though she hadn't said anything during dinner. We were both tense, wondering if Oakley would escalate. It would have looked good for me if she had, but I'd rather avoid the drama.

At home, I grabbed Lilliana from the truck, and when I turned around, Blake was already lifting her overnight bag and cooing to her. "How are you, sweet girl?"

Lilliana grinned so wide I could see her baby teeth.

Inside, I set her things down and said, "Let's get you in the bathtub."

Blake followed me into the bathroom, waiting while I got Lilliana ready for the bath and ran the water until it was warm enough for her to go in.

"Was everything okay?" Blake asked quietly.

"Yeah, for the most part. There were a few questions about why I was doing things this way, but they quickly gave in."

"That's good." She wrung her hands. "I was so worried."

It touched me that she cared enough about the situation to be concerned. Oakley never cared how she affected me. In fact, I suspected she enjoyed upsetting me. I sat on the covered toilet, so I could see Lilliana, and tugged Blake to stand between my legs.

I looked up at her, my hands on the back of her bare thighs. "You shouldn't worry about me."

She raised a brow. "I can't help it."

She was sweet. And too good for me. She'd realize that when she decided she should head back to school. She'd remember all the reasons why she had a bright future ahead of her and shouldn't waste her time with me.

But selfishly, I'd enjoy every minute I got to spend with her.

"Everything turned out okay this time." I didn't hold out hope that Oakley wouldn't have a tantrum at some point, but right now, her attorney was reining her in.

Blake moved so we could watch Lilliana in the water.

She was playing with her toys, not worried about her parents' visitation schedule.

That's what I wanted for her. I wanted a nice, stable life where she could look forward to seeing both of us.

I hoped it would become reality, and that the mediator, or judge if it came to that, would see through Oakley's bullshit.

Every morning before I left for work, I checked in on a sleeping Lilliana before I grabbed my packed lunch and to-go coffee mug.

Blake sent me messages and images throughout the day, so I felt like I was with them on their excursions to the beach, the library, and the playground. In the evenings, the girls greeted me. Then I made dinner while they played nearby.

I enjoyed our little routine and getting back to work. I felt more confident about my plan to push for more consistent visitation and a legal custody order.

At breakfast on Saturday, I said, "We should do something together as a family."

Blake raised a brow.

I hated to resort to our fake relationship, but I wanted to spend time with Blake and Lilliana. "We haven't done anything together this week. We want people to see us out and about."

Blake nodded in understanding. "What do you want to do?"

"We could go to the beach, ride bikes around the island, or go to the craft fair at the community center."

"I read about the fair in the flyers around town. Let's do that, and then we can go to the beach after her nap."

I winked at Blake. "That sounds like the perfect day."

Her face flushed slightly, and I wondered if I had an effect on her.

I was a little rusty on my dating game, but I felt like there was an attraction there that wasn't one-sided.

But it was probably the fact that she was living with me.

This wasn't a normal relationship, where we dated and then I dropped her off at the end of the night.

We were living together, which made things easier and harder.

It highlighted my attraction to her, but I had to keep a tight lid on it because we weren't supposed to be real. I had to remember that her time here was limited. She could decide to go back to school at any time.

She didn't have plans to stay on the island. There was nothing keeping her here.

The predictability of a new visitation schedule coming out of mediation had me hoping for smooth sailing ahead. Maybe we wouldn't end up in a court case. If things were easily resolved, there wouldn't be a reason for Blake and me to pretend to be together anymore.

I'd let Blake out of this arrangement, and she'd be free to do whatever she wanted. There was nothing holding her here.

We finished breakfast, and then I got Lilliana dressed while Blake disappeared into the bathroom. I heard the shower turn on, and I tried not to think about the fact that she was naked in there. That the water was touching her skin.